Payal Mehta - BIRDS of INDIA: Hot and Cold Deserts
Originally presented February 5, 2022, at 10AM EST, Payal Mehta describes the varied climates of India and the birds that call them home.
The Skowhegan Bird Club is starting the new year with a very special talk with naturalist and nature guide Payal Mehta. Payal will be speaking to us from India, introducing us to birds of the cold and hot deserts of the subcontinent. She will take us on a virtual journey through these landscapes, exploring habitats and conservation challenges. Unlike previous talks, this talk will be on Sunday morning!
Born and raised in Bombay, Payal completed her Masters in Geology from St. Xavier’s College. Alongside her academics, she got trained as a Mountaineer and got her diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has been freelancing as a Wildlife Tour Leader and Guide Trainer since 2011, leading wildlife tours in Nepal, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka. Along with her husband and naturalist, Harsha J., she has conducted many Nature Guide training programmes across India. In collaboration with Nature Conservation Foundation, through the pandemic lockdown Payal and Harsha created India’s first Online Nature Guide Mentorship Course. This course is offered free of cost and intends to reach people in rural Western Ghats who wish to pursue a career as Nature Guides.
